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When Anthony Gose goes back for a hard line drive, he makes it look easy.

Gifted with speed, the instincts to read balls correctly, and a brilliant throwing arm, Gose gave another demonstration of his considerable skill set during the Jays’ 4-2 win over Cleveland before 17,364 at the Rogers Centre Thursday night.

The Jays took two of three from Cleveland, and in the process, got a strong outing from J.A. Happ, who had his best outing of the season, a six-inning, six-hit effort that improved his record to 2-1.

The night belonged to Edwin Encarnacion, who slammed two homers and in four trips to the plate hit the ball as hard as it can be hit.

But Gose was part of the equation, playing centre field, covering a lot of ground, and foreshadowing once again what may turn into a permanent stay in the big leagues.

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In the fifth inning Thursday, Cleveland’s No. 9 hitter, Mike Aviles, a .310 No. 9 hitter at that, stroked a line drive that very likely sails over the head of some slower outfielders. But not Gose. He ran it down gracefully, the way you expect a big leaguer to do, making it look routine.

More importantly, he did the same thing in the eighth inning off pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall; Cleveland had runners on first and second and one out, and Gose ran down a line drive to the gap in right-centre field to save a run.

That smooth, confident defence may be, finally, the ticket for Gose to stay in the big leagues. The talented outfielder was up with the Jays from Buffalo Thursday after the club placed regular centre fielder Colby Rasmus on the disabled list (hamstring).

“He’s played great for us, he really has,” Jays manager John Gibbons praised after the win.

“Realistically, defensively he’s as good as anybody out there, you won’t find a better centre fielder. He has that look in his eyes, like he belongs. He will take away a lot of hits in centre field for you.”

At the very least, Gose should get another one of the so-called “looks” for the next two weeks, unless things go unexpectedly wrong.

But Gose has been a can’t-miss prospect ever since he arrived from Houston (via Philles in a three-way trade) three years ago. He had 56 games in Toronto in 2012, 52 more the following season, and four so far this season.

Each season, his storyline is expected to turn from prospect to big leaguer, but while he brings a solid defensive package, his batting remains a work in process.

Gose hit .223 that first season and .259 the second — a marked improvement but not electric enough to earn him a full-time job.

Now, the background may be different for Gose — and more advantageous.

Gibbons said Gose and Kevin Pillar (called up from Buffalo two days ago) will platoon during Rasmus’s absence.

Rasmus will get his job back in centre field the moment he returns; but Gose and Pillar are potentially in a dog fight to remain with the big league team.

Toronto currently does not have an extra outfielder on the bench, which means there is an opportunity for the two young outfielders.

If it comes down to it, the deciding factor may be Gose’s speed on both sides of the ball. He bats ninth in the order with Jose Reyes, an equally gifted runner, batting lead off. Toronto could work several options with two speedsters back to back, especially if Gose ups his batting average and on-base percentage.

If he remains in Toronto, Gose is also a better option in that he can play all three outfield positions, pinch run and upgrade the defence as a late-inning replacement in close games.

But Gose, at 23, has yet to carve out his niche as a batter in the big leagues. It’s not likely he will hit for power numbers; rather, he is likely aiming at contact, putting the ball in play, and legging out singles and doubles.

“I don’t know how far I’ve come, all I know is I have to keep swinging the bat,” said Gose, who was .333 in his three games in Toronto prior to Thursday’s call-up. “I have to figure a way out every day to hit, just try and keep getting hits.”

Gose realizes that storyline has been the dominant one of his career — and he also knows hitting, over defence, keeps a young player in the big leagues.

He managed a walk, and was hit by a pitch, in his first two at-bats Thursday, but struck out in his third appearance.

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